Sword plants

A sword feeds through its roots, so it wants a root tab pushed under it every couple of months or a nutrient substrate; a sword in bare gravel with liquid fertilizer starves slowly. About half the swords here reach 15.7 to 23.6 inches (40 to 60 cm) and spread 5.9 to 15.7 inches (15 to 40 cm). Those split about evenly between background and midground plants. A sword sold in a pot was grown out of water, and its first leaves melt in the tank while the submersed ones come; the plant is fine. A settled sword usually makes plantlets that root when pressed into the substrate, and a few, such as the chain swords, spread by runners.

1. 01

   Root feeders

   A root tab every couple of months, or a nutrient substrate

2. 02

   Big

   About half reach 15.7 to 23.6 inches (40 to 60 cm), narrower than their height

3. 03

   Emersed leaves melt

   The potted leaves go, the submersed ones come

4. 04

   Plantlets

   A settled sword usually makes plantlets you can replant

The marble queen sword grows cream-marbled leaves at 19.7 inches (50 cm), marked easy. The ruffled sword has wavy-edged leaves at 23.6 inches (60 cm). The Uruguay sword is narrow-leaved at 21.7 inches (55 cm). The narrow leaf chain sword reaches 23.6 inches (60 cm) and spreads by runners along the back. The Echinodorus floribundus is the giant, marked medium at 39.4 inches (100 cm), a pond plant in a small tank. The Horemanii sword is the collector's sword, marked difficult for the cool, soft water it wants.

The Hadi Red Pearl sword is marked easy at 9.8 inches (25 cm) with red-speckled leaves, a sword for a small tank. The oriental sword stays at 11.8 inches (30 cm) under high light with pink new growth. The Aflame sword is marked medium, a slow sword with red-brown leaves at 11.8 inches (30 cm). The Fancy Twist sword grows curled leaves at 15.7 inches (40 cm). The Reni sword is marked easy for low light at 15.7 inches (40 cm), and the quadricostatus chain sword spreads by runners at 5.9 inches (15 cm) in low light.